Eight Step Planning Process for Floodplain/Wetland Management
- STEP #1 Project Location in Floodplain/Wetland
- STEP #2 Encourage Public Involvement
- STEP #3 Evaluate Alternatives
- STEP #4 Assess Impacts
- STEP #5 Minimize Impacts
- STEP #6 Determine Practicability
- STEP #7 Provide Public Explanation
- STEP #8 Comply with Executive Orders
EO 11988: Floodplain Management
EO 11990: Wetland Protection
(Note: See 44 CFR 9.6 for more detailed information.)
STEP #1 Project Location in Floodplain/Wetland
Will the action be located in a wetland and/or the 100-year floodplain or will it have the potential to affect a wetland or floodplain?
- If no, you are finished
- If yes, continue to step #2
STEP #2 Encourage Public Involvement
A public notice must be published at the earliest possible time to provide information about the proposed project (1st Notice). The notice must be disaster-wide & project specific
- Not applicable, you are done
- Applicable, move on to step #3
STEP #3 Evaluate Alternatives
Is there any reasonable alternative to locating the project in a floodplain or wetland?
- If yes, FEMA must locate the action at the alternative site
- If no, continue to step #4
STEP #4 Assess Impacts
If the action must go in the wetlands or floodplain then the full range of impacts associated with the action must be identified.
- Not applicable, you are done
- Applicable, move on to step #5
STEP #5 Minimize Impacts
All potential adverse impacts must be avoided, minimized, or compensated for.
- Not applicable, you are done
- Applicable, move on to step #6
STEP #6 Determine Practicability
Reevaluate the proposed action to determine if it is still practicable in light of its exposure to flood hazards, the extent to which it will aggravate the hazards of others, and its potential to disrupt floodplain and wetland values.
- Not applicable, you are done
- Applicable, move on to step #7
STEP #7 Provide Public Explanation
If FEMA decides to take/fund an action that affects a floodplain or wetland, a 2nd public notice must be published (for a minimum of 15 days) to explain why affecting a floodplain or wetland is the only practicable alternative.
- Not applicable, you are done
- Applicable, move on to step #8
STEP #8 Comply with Executive Orders
Review the implementation and post-implementation phases of the proposed action to ensure that the requirements of the order are fully implemented. Oversight responsibility shall be integrated into existing processes.
- Not applicable, you are done
- Applicable, approval conditioned on review of implementation and post-implementation phases to insure compliance of the Executive Orders
Sample Requirements for Work in State Wetlands, Waterways and Floodplains
| Permit | Agency | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A | State Stream Protection Act | A | State Fish, Wildlife & Parks |
| B | Storm Water Discharge General Permits | B | Dept. of Environmental Quality |
| C | Streamside Management Zone | C | Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation |
| D | State Floodplain and Floodway Management Act | D | Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation |
| E | Short-term Exemption from State's Surface Water Quality Standards | E | Dept. of Environmental Quality |
| F | State Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act | F, G | State Association of Conservation Districts and Department of Natural Resources & Conservation |
| G | State Land-Use License or Easement on Navigable Waters | ||
| H | State Water Use Act | H | Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation |
| I | Federal Clean Water Act (Section 404) | I | US Army Corps of Engineers |
| J | Federal Rivers and Harbors Act | J | US Army Corps of Engineers |
| K | Other laws that may apply depending upon your location and activity | K | Other agencies |
Last Modified: Wednesday, 19-Apr-2006 10:34:30 EDT